The Viking women's basketball team led VCSU with a team GPA of 3.69, which was the third-best GPA among all Division II women's basketball teams. The VCSU men's golf team had a GPA of 3.63, which was also third-best among all men's golf teams.

Viking volleyball had a 3.62 GPA and was 13th among NAIA volleyball teams. The VCSU women's golf team had a 3.57 GPA.

"Becoming an NAIA Scholar-Team is not an easy feat to accomplish while putting in all the hours for practice, games and competition," said athletic director Nate Stewart. "This reiterates what we already know; our student-athletes are dedicated to earning degrees while representing VCSU on the fields and courts."

During the 2016-17 school year, VCSU had a school-record 30 student-athletes earn the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete award, and had 100 student-athletes named NSAA Scholar-Athletes.